31/12/2006

Dr. Marco Impagliazzo: Sant'Egidio community grounded in Word of God

In the year 1977 in Italy, the Roman school system found itself in upheaval with students occupying and running the schools. In the midst of this unrest, a fifteen-year-old boy named Marco seized the opportunity to participate in a student-led field trip with a group that seemed different from the students leading the occupation. They caught his attention because, unlike many of the other students, these people were not talking about their own needs, but addressing the needs of others. This group introduced Marco to their school for the poor in the shanty towns of Rome. This would begin the lifelong journey of Marco with Sant'Egidio.

On the 14th of November of this year, I enjoyed the good fortune of sitting down with Dr. Marco Impagliazzo, President of Sant'Egidio. He was on a five day visit with the community in the United States which included community formation, public prayer, and receiving the Dignitis Humana Award from Catholic Charities and St. John's University/College of St. Benedict and Catholic Charities.. The following conversation invites a look at the community from its current leader.

Please note: the comments from Dr. Impagliazzo are translations from his close friend, fellow community member and interpreter, Claudio.

"The Catholic Servant": What is the purpose of Sant'Egidio and what characteristics distinguish it from other faith communities?

Dr. Marco Impagliazzo: It is distinct in that it is primarily lay, has no rule nor any vows and allows free commitment. If we had a rule, it would be called The Rule of Zacchaeus because everyone in the community freely gives of themselves without being told that they must.

The community's efforts revolve around prayer, communicating the Gospel, friendship with the poor, ecumenism, and dialogue for peace.

"The Catholic Servant": How would you describe the relationship between Sant'Egidio and the Church?

Dr. Marco Impagliazzo: The Church is our mother and we are her children. We are within the Church and are very faithful. In 1986, the Pontifical Council for the Laity declared our juridical membership as an international lay public association. We were born in Rome in 1968 and because of this, we have a special relationship with the pope. Before he is the pope, he is the Bishop of Rome. This relationship is explained some in Andrea Riccardi's book Sant'Egidio, Rome and The World describing how we share the view and vision with the Pope from Rome.

"The Catholic Servant": How does Sant'Egidio fit into the parish and diocesan paradigm?

Dr. Marco Impagliazzo: We are at the service of the Church. Our history and identity are unique. Our communities work within parishes, but can also reach places, like in Africa or in universities, where parish boundaries do not permit. Unlike the parishes that must wait, we can go out to people, communicate the Gospel and touch lives. A missionary reality. We have created places of prayer where the parish cannot go. This is the uniqueness.

Because the pope has already formally recognized us in the community statutes, we do not need to receive episcopal recognition from the local; bishop, but we do remain at the service of the bishop and do communicate our presence to him. In Africa, this unique freedom offers some protection for communities which they would otherwise lack.

"The Catholic Servant": How does participation in the community help members on their paths to sainthood?

Dr. Marco Impagliazzo: We take the Gospel very seriously. It is like lay life with the heart of monks. That is, the call to holiness is for all people, but it is a very personal call as well, so prayer and Scripture are very important things for each person's path. It is about a meek life and about building bridges. It is not accepting the culture of conflict but living without enemies. Walking toward holiness is life with the mission of leaving a gift behind. The gift is the Gospel, to help others be better.

"The Catholic Servant": While it sounds like the call to Sant'Egidio is certainly vocational, are some members called from the community to the priesthood or to religious orders?

Dr. Marco Impagliazzo: Some priests have found their priestly call born in the community. Also, a bishop-member of Sant'Egidio has created a seminary near Rome for the community. Seminarians and priests there study to serve both in and out of Sant'Egidio.

"The Catholic Servant": Given the ecumenical character of Sant'Egidio, how do Catholic members maintain their Catholic identity?

Dr. Marco Impagliazzo: There is a misunderstanding with ecumenism that dialogue with others waters down the truth. The opposite it true. The more I understand others, the more I understand myself. There is no contradiction between dialogue and mission. You do both and at the same time. Pope John Paul II, in his missionary encyclical explains this. Dialogue and mission are part of the same vocation. Community members, the overwhelming majority of whom are Catholic, understand this.

"The Catholic Servant": In what kinds of advanced studies do members of the community engage, so as to grow in their Catholic understanding of the Faith?

Dr. Marco Impagliazzo: There is no specialization. Sant'Egidio is not just for the theologically trained, to participate or even to preach. Everyone is given the gift of the Gospel to study it and to preach about it. It is a life experience. The best study is to live what we say and what we read in the Gospel, not only outside of work, but in our work and everything we do.

"The Catholic Servant": Thank you so much for taking the time to share your insights on the community with me and our leaders.

Dr. Marco Impagliazzo: I would also like to say something about the prayer of the community. For Sant'Egidio, service to the poor is grounded in the Word of God. We cannot fuel our service on our own goodwill or generosity. It must be on the Gospel call to love our neighbor as ourselves. For us, as Pope Benedict XVI says in Deus Caritas Est, love is a commandment and not a spontaneous movement of the heart. Love of God grows in common with love of neighbors.

Zachary Zeckser is a theology teacher and Red Knight Volunteer Corps advisor at Benilde - St. Margaret High School St. Louis Park, MN.

Zachary Zeckser